Robert James Trial Attorneys - April 2022

Robert James Trial Attorneys - April 2022

www.AttorneyRobertJames.com 404.891.0977

April 2022

Distracted Driving Is the New Drunk Driving

When you’re driving anywhere, if you look at other drivers, you’ll likely see one who is distracted. They’re either on their phone, putting on makeup, eating a sandwich, turning around to face passengers in the back seat, or looking down at the radio. Distracted driving is a serious issue in society today and has claimed the lives of many, injured others, and caused serious accidents and damages that could have been avoided. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This is a time dedicated to bringing awareness to the issue and dangers of distracted driving. We are trying to eliminate some of the injuries and deaths that occur far too often when a driver’s attention is not fully devoted to the road. Many people think that it’s only dangerous if you’re driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but they don’t realize that driving distracted yields the same dangerous, and sometimes deadly, results. The bottom line is that if any activity is stealing your attention and making it more difficult for you to react to things that are happening on the road around you, it is distracted driving, and it can be just as deadly and damaging as driving drunk.

“It’s not worth your life or the life of another individual.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), reading or sending a text typically takes your attention off the road for about 5 seconds. If you are driving at a speed of 55 mph, that means that in 5 seconds, you’ll have driven the length of a full football field with your eyes closed! A lot can happen in that period of time! Cars can swerve in front of you, your car may drift, a person or animal could run in the path of your vehicle, a light can turn red, or you may run a stop sign without realizing it. The Transport Research Laboratory conducted a study and concluded that consuming alcohol up to the legal limit will slow your reaction time by 12%, but texting can slow your reaction time by 35%! Distracted driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving! Every car built within the past 5–7 years is now Bluetooth-enabled, meaning you can pair your phone with the car. When receiving a call or text, your car can send a simple audible alert or read the message out loud, and you can opt to respond with your voice. Taking it one step further, the phone can be mounted to a window so drivers can utilize the maps feature and still ensure that their eyes never leave the road. If you don’t have this technology in your vehicle, there is no harm in just waiting until later to check your phone. It’s not worth your life or the life of another individual. I just settled a case in which my client now has lifelong back injuries as a result of a distracted driver hitting him from behind at a stoplight. While he received a healthy settlement, I know for a fact that my client would 100% forgo that money and take his health back because his injuries are something that will be with him for a lifetime. No amount of money will ever make him whole again. Stay off your phone, and don’t drive distracted!

www.AttorneyRobertJames.com | 1 –Robert D. James

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

Get Sprung 4 Ways to Harvest Positive Vibes in Spring

Enjoy more hours of daylight. Spring brings more hours of sunlight and warming temperatures that can give you more time to enjoy your morning cup of coffee outside. You can take an early stroll around the block, get in a workout outdoors, or just enjoy the fresh air. Also, many areas observe daylight saving time, which extends sunlight into the evening, so no matter how you choose to spend your extra daylight, make it an adventure. Welcome spring-cleaning. It isn’t called spring-cleaning for nothing! Decluttering, dusting, reorganizing, and tidying up feels great! It’s empowering and refreshing. There is something special about creating more space in your living space that gets the positivity flowing. Eat fresh, colorful foods. During spring, many delicious fruits and vegetables come into season. Berries, oranges, apples, carrots, avocados, cherries, spinach, and kale are all at their peak. Your local farmers market is a great place to get the freshest produce to fuel your body!

Have you ever noticed that springtime just feels lighter and brighter? That’s because, believe it or not, the seasons affect us. When spring rolls around, the energy shifts, and it’s up to us to maximize those positive vibes. Let’s examine how we can make the most of spring and inject some color and vibrancy into our lives again after a long winter. Rely on color. Colors have the ability to elicit certain emotions and feelings. Tropical tones and pastels are everywhere in spring — the clear sky, grass, and flowers — so allow them to fill your space and take them with you as constant reminders to smile. If you’re up for it, wear some new colors to brighten up your wardrobe, and don’t forget to take in a sunset when you’re able!

Spring is a time for new beginnings and positivity. Make the most of this spring season by welcoming a fresh abundance of love and life.

Raise a Glass — Or Several 6 Ways to Drink More Water Without Thinking About It

Drink a full glass with medicines. Many of us get in the habit of only taking a large sip of water with pills. However, whether you take a supplement, medication, or vitamin, wash it down with a full glass of water. Carry around a large water bottle. Taking your water with you in a large bottle reminds you to keep sipping wherever you go. Every chance you get, fill it up.

Staying hydrated is one of the pillars of healthy living. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, women should drink 11.5 cups (92 ounces) of water a day, and men should drink 15.5 cups (124 ounces) a day. But, if we’re being honest, water can be pretty boring to drink — there are things we’d rather be drinking, and busy schedules make it difficult. Here are some ways to work more water into your daily routine to promote optimal health. Begin and end your day with water. Make it a routine to drink a large glass of water upon waking up and before going to bed. “Bookending” your day like this ensures that your body is hydrated for both the day and night ahead. Drink a cup of water with each cup of coffee. Many of us are used to drinking more than one cup of coffee throughout the day. If you drink a glass of water with each cup of coffee, you’re sure to stay hydrated. Keep in mind that while coffee is a liquid and contains water, it’s not very thirst-quenching. Ice is your friend. Each time you pour a drink or make a smoothie, use lots of ice! Your taste buds will hardly notice the difference, and you’ll still have lots of flavor while boosting your hydration.

The bottomless water bottle is a perfect way to work more water into your day. As a bonus, you can use a measured bottle to see how much you’ve actually drank throughout the day! Infuse your water. Try giving your H2O an extra kick. Add berries, lemon, lime, or mint to your water to give it some flavor and help make it more enticing to drink!

Water is important for a healthy body and mind, so follow these tips and stay hydrated!

2 | 404.891.0977

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

TAKE A BREAK

The Difference Between Robbery, Theft, and Burglary WERE YOU REALLY ‘ROBBED’?

Robberies, thefts, and burglaries are all crimes, and the terms are often used interchangeably when people talk about

them. However, the actual definitions of each word are different in the legal and law enforcement world. There are a few things that you should know when it comes to using the correct terminology.

Theft Theft is the criminal act of taking another individual’s property (both tangible and intangible) without their permission. To fulfill the requirements of the crime, the person committing the act must have the intent to permanently deprive another person of that property. Shoplifting, taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission, stealing money from another person, and taking by deception are all examples of theft. Robbery Robbery differs from theft in that while they both involve taking something from someone, robbery includes force or the threat of force. It is a violent crime, and the victim must’ve been in fear for the crime to be classified as robbery. It should be noted that the property that is taken during the crime does not need to be taken directly off of the victim’s person. It can be property that someone is in control of, such as bills in a cash register. Burglary Unlike theft and robbery, burglary is not always a theft crime. A burglary occurs when one unlawfully enters a structure they do not own or have permission to enter — and they have the intent to commit a crime once they are inside. Some examples of burglary include breaking into a vehicle or opening up an unlocked door to commit a crime after they enter. Thefts, robberies, and burglaries can be confusing, but they all share one thing: If you’re convicted of one of these crimes, you will face serious consequences. If you ever need legal advice or assistance, get in touch with a lawyer you trust. They’ve got your back!

PECAN CREAM PIE

This creamy pecan pie tastes like a dream and is simple enough for even a novice baker.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans, divided

• 1 9-inch uncooked pie crust • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • 1/4 cup powdered sugar • 2 8-oz bars of cream cheese, softened

Directions

1. Cook pie crust according to package instructions. 2. In a small bowl, combine heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar. Beat for several minutes with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. 3. In a separate larger bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, brown sugar, and maple syrup. Beat together until combined and creamy. 4. Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture and stir together until combined. Stir in 1 cup of chopped pecans. 5. With a spatula, spread mixture into the baked and cooled pie crust.

Sprinkle the remaining pecans on top of the pie. 6. Cover and refrigerate overnight before serving.

Inspired by TogetherAsFamily.com

www.AttorneyRobertJames.com | 3

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

404.891.0977 www.AttorneyRobertJames.com 233 Peachtree St. NE Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Dissecting the Dangers of Distracted Driving

1

Welcome Spring With Open Arms How to Drink More Water

2

3

Pecan Cream Pie How to Tell if You Were Robbed or Burglarized

4

Major April Fools’ Day Fails

April Fools’ Day Gone Wrong 3 Pranks That Severely Backfired

her brand-new car, the DJ came out with a remote control toy car. They then went on air and laughed about how they fooled everyone. Castillo hired an attorney and sued the radio station for $60,000 — the cost of a new Hummer. Practical Joke at Work Creates a Law Glenn Howlett was a services manager at London City Hall in London, Ontario, Canada. In 2004, he decided to take a vacation to relax and not think about work. His colleagues decided to tell him that a major project he was working on was due earlier than Howlett expected. So, he made his vacation short and decided to return to work to finish his project. He became so stressed out that he began having heart palpitations and collapsed. Afterward, he sued his now former employer for damages. As a result, the city passed a law prohibiting practical jokes within workplaces. As you plan your pranks for April Fools’ Day, remember not to go too far with your jokes. Make them lighthearted and fun so everyone can laugh about them in the future.

April 1, aka April Fools’ Day, is when people love to pull pranks on one another. But if they’re not careful, pranks can end with a court case or jail time. Let’s take a look at a few April Fools’ pranks that have brutally backfired. Navistar Plant Shutdown In April 2021, Pamela Sisco texted her sister about an active shooter at Navistar Plant in Clark County. Her sister was frightened, and she called the authorities to let them know about the situation. The plant shut down after hearing about the incident because they thought it was a real threat. When officers were at the scene, they charged Sisco with inducing panic and disrupting public services. This is a fifth- degree felony in Ohio, and she was sentenced to a year in prison. Radio Contest Gone Wrong KBDS (103.9 FM) is a radio station in California that held a contest in 2005. They told their listeners they could win a new Hummer if they tracked the number of miles of two Hummers as they drove around town. Shannan Castillo won the contest, and when she went to pick up

4 | 404.891.0977

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com